Harbhajan Singh set for 100th Test for India against Australia

The Indian spin bowler will appear for the 100th time for his country against Australia on Friday.

Harbhajan Singh will become only the 10th Indian player in history to reach the 100-Test landmark, after he was confirmed in the starting XI for the first Test in Chennai against Australia.

Harbhajan has been out of the Test side for some time, only playing once in the last 20 months – in India’s defeat to England in Mumbai last year.

Australia are one of the favourite teams for the spinner to face, as at Chennai 12 years ago, Harbhajan helped mastermind one of the greatest turnarounds in Test history against the Australians, finishing with 15 wickets from the match.

The spin bowler has taken 408 wickets in his 99 Tests to date, averaging at 32.27 and will join a strong Indian spin attack that also includes Pragyan Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin. Harbhajan spoke of his nerves in the build-up to this milestone.

“It’s a big game. [The previous] 99 are gone. Obviously [I am] a bit nervous but I am sure I will be fine,” Harbhajan told ESPN.

“Once I get away with 100, we will see what needs to be done to play another 50-odd. Probably I will have to work even harder.”

Harbhajan will now join an illustrious list of Indian cricketers that have reached 100 Test matches. Players who have got there include Harbhajan’s team-mates Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, as well as famous names from the past such as Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid.